11 Best Once-a-day Sunscreens – and How to Use Them Properly

Do you find yourself spending more time religiously applying and reapplying a thick layer of SPF than zapping through your summer must-read on your Kindle?

If so, a once-a-day suncream could provide the answer to your protection problems.

Quick disclaimer: don’t take any once-a-day promise too literally. These formulas don't mean you can slap on a light layer at 8AM and forget all about your skin until sundown. You will still need to stay vigilant and reapply after sweating or getting wet.

But, whether you're sat in your local park, enjoying the British costal lines or working up a sweat in your garden, keep these SPFs handy. They'll certainly save you some time on sun protection.

The best once-a-day suncreams for your body and face

This quick-drying formula is designed to give up to 10 hours of protection from UVA and UVB rays, and comes in a super-convenient spray bottle. The lightweight, invisible spray can resist water for up to 80 minutes - an ideal choice for keen swimmers.

Caudalie’s skincare range is famed for harnessing the age-defying powers of the grape. Their suncare range is no different. Not only does this glide across limbs leaving them soft and protected, but it’s also free from the three typical sun care ingredients that pose a threat to ocean and marine wildlife. It’s a no-brainer for those who live near the coast.

3/ Best gel sunscreen for body: Ultra Sun Sports Gel SPF30

Made with athletes and fitness fans in mind, this gel has won a legion of fans for its ability to stay whilst you work out. It secret is lamellar technology, which is composed of fine, alternating layers, that form an even bond with the skin. In a nutshell, it guarantees complete and even distribution, giving hard working and long-lasting protection to skin, even at its deepest layers.

Easily one of the best once-a-day options, this game-changing sunscreen is designed to actually strengthen with water contact. The protection is heavy-duty, even when sweating and swimming, yet the creamy texture is lightweight and comfortable with no chalky residue.

Rather than loaded with the usual UV absorbing chemicals, this organic cream contains a proprietary blend of antioxidants such as red algae, vitamin E, vitamin C ester, green tea and bisabolol to defend against rays and free radical damage. The fine mist has a white finish so you can see where it has landed on skin, but it disappears once you've massaged it in.

6/ Best suncream for kids: Soltan Kids 8hr Protect & Play SPF30

Any parent knows that kids don’t sit still at the best of times, let alone when you’re trying to smother them in sun cream. Thankfully this brilliant skin protector provides coverage that lasts just as long as their energy levels.

For those of you who really can’t stand the feeling of any sunscreen on their body at all, behold this brilliant bare skin feel mist. We’re not kidding, you can’t feel a thing. It’s not a cause for concern though, the clever mist still offers ultimate protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

A brilliant all-rounder, this barely-there SPF also doubles up as a moisturiser and a foundation primer all rolled in to one. It does a brilliant job art protecting without interfering with your make-up and the added liquorice, lecithin and hydrating hyaluronic acid give skin a nourishing boost, too.

This hero SPF is championed by those who have sensitive skin, as it relies on microencapsulation technology so that its UV filters are housed in silica-based capsules. What the benefit of this? Well it strengthens and maintains your skin's barrier against the sun’s rays without causing irritation.

If you’re prone to breakouts this SPF is worth checking out. It offers exceptionally high, broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays but is cleverly fortified with Airlicium with means upon misting, the formulas forms a breathable veil over skin so that pores don’t become clogged. It’s a game changer.

Perfect for urban dwellers, this gel like formula tackles both UV rays and pollution, while a elastin protecting tiger lily helps to avoid fine lines and loss of skin bounce. If that wasn’t enough eight antioxidants and cactus plant extract to prevent moisture loss and control shine so your make-up doesn’t do a disappearing act by 11am.

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